Poems The Blind Boy

Introduction You can listen to a recording of this poem at: http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/poems/blind-boy This support pack contains the following materials: a pre-reading vocabulary activity the poem that you can listen to a comprehension activity Before you read Activity 1 Match the words and phrases at the top to their definitions. a. bear c. cheer of mind e. mourn g. sighs i. twere b. blessings d. hapless f. neer

h. thus j. woe

1. express great sadness 2. feeling happy 3. good things 4. great troubles 5. in this way 6. it would be 7. never 8. slow noisy breaths 9. tolerate something unpleasant 10. unlucky and unhappy Read the poem The Blind Boy by Colley Cibber O say what is that thing call'd Light, Which I must ne'er enjoy; What are the blessings of the sight, O tell your poor blind boy! You talk of wondrous things you see; You say the sun shines bright: I feel him warm, but how can he Or make it day or night? My day or night myself I make Whene'er I sleep or play; And could I ever keep awake With me 'twere always day.
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Poems The Blind Boy

With heavy sighs I often hear You mourn my hapless woe; But sure with patience I can bear A loss I ne'er can know. Then let not what I cannot have My cheer of mind destroy; Whilst thus I sing, I am a king, Although a poor blind boy.

After you read Activity 2 Decide if each of the following 10 statements about the poem is True or False. 1. The blind boy can enjoy light. 2. The boy wants to be told about sight. 3. The boy doesnt know what the warmth of the sun feels like. 4. The boy doesnt understand how the sun makes it day or night. 5. The boy plays at night and sleeps during the day. 6. The boy knows its day if hes awake. 7. The boy knows that others feel sorry for him. 8. The boy has never known what it is to see. 9. The boys blindness destroys his mind. 10. The boy is a king.

Answers Activity 1: 1. e; 2. c; 3. b; 4. j; 5. h; 6. i; 7. f; 8. g; 9. a; 10. d Activity 2: 1. False (F); 2. True (T); 3. F; 4. T; 5. F; 6. T; 7. T; 8; T; 9. F; 10. F

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